Wheel for foot attachment



Aug. 29, 1950 D. w. BLACKWELL 2,520,793

WHEEL FOR FOOT ATTACHMENTS Filed 001:. 21, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. DAN/EL W BLACKWELL 6 a BYQM/MW A T TORNE Y Aug. 29, 1950 o. w. BLACKWELL WHEEL FOR FOOT ATTACHMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 21, 1946 FIG. 4

FIG. 2

INVENTOR. DAN/EL 14! BLACK WELL Patented Aug. 29, 1950 N ITED OFFICE WHEELJ G O ATTACH Daniel BlackweiLrSan Diego, Galif. APIiliOfifiQ Oct ber 21, 46 9 i? o: 7 73 My invention relates to avehicle more particularly for use in connection with the feet of a person and the objects of my invention are:

First, .to provide a vehicle of this class which maybe entirely operated in connection with the feetof a person;

Second, to provide a vehicle-of this class in which relatively large diameter wheels are provided with foot rest members suspended below the axis ,of said wheels providing relatively smooth operation of said vehicle over uneven suraces;

Third, to provide a vehicle of this classin which frictional engagement for motivation or braking may be accomplished by tilting the feet of thewhich the vehicle is being operated; a d

Sixth, to provide a Vehicle of this class which is very simple andeconomical.oficonstruction, efficient in operation, and which will not readily deteriorate orget out of order. With these and other objects in view, as will" 1 appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon forming a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my vehicle showing by dash lines the relative position of a persons leg and foot in connection therewith; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken from the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the same plane as that shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings; Fig. 4 is a plan sectional view of my vehicle taken from the line 4-fi of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the same plane as that shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings;

and Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

The wheel I, axle 2, suspension arm 3, leg brace 2 Claims. (01. 280-:e'1-L24) 2: 4, foot plate 5, friction shoe 5, bushings land 8, and the tire '9, constitute the principal parts and portions of my vehicle.

The wheel I as shown best in Figs. 1 and -2 of the drawings is provided with :a resilient tire Q positioned about its periphery and an internal drum surface in engageable with the friction shoe ti pivotally mounted about the axis of the bush- 'ing 8 as shown best in Fig. l .of the drawings. The wheel l is journaled on the axle 2 in the bushing;l and is provided with bearings 2a as shown best in 5 of the drawings. Secured on one end of the axle 2 is the suspension arm 3. This suspension arm 3 as shown best in Figs.

2 and 3 of the drawings is provided with a trunion portion @a at its lower end in connection with w en is screw-threaded the bushing 8. Screw "threaded in the opposite end of this bushing 8 is acap 8a adapted to retain .the bearing to of the-foot plate 5 inposition on the bushing 31. The

bearing tie is provided with bracket portions 51) at its lowermost side which support the friction shoe ii in connection with the supporting plate to in connection therewith. The foot .plate 5 is provided with a heel supportin portion :50 and ankle strap 5d together with .soleclamps lie for maintaining-the shoe on a persons foot inconpivoted over the axis of the bushing 8. The leg brace 4 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings is provided with calf engaging strap portions lb at its upper end and a clamp portion 4a at its lower end vertically adjustably mounted on the suspension arm 3 arranged to accommodate the variety in length of different persons legs.

The operation of my vehicle is substantially as follows: The person operating my vehicle secures one of said vehicles to each leg by placing his feet in connection with the foot plate 5 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and securing the straps lb and Ed in place together with the adjustment of the shoe sole clamps 5e. When one of my vehicles is secured to each foot of a person, the person propels himself in substantially the normal walking motion whereby tilting of the foot plate 5 over the axis of the bushing 8 causes the toe portion of the friction shoe 6 to engage the annular drum la of the wheel I creating positive friction of the person's foot in connection with the ground engaged by the tire 9 of the wheel I permitting the operator to take positive forward stride. The wheel I is provided with an annular recess adjacent to the foot plate 5, permitting the wheel to be placed closer to the wearers foot. When in motion, the operator may coast on the wheels I" by assuming the solid line position as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, wherein the friction shoe is disengaged from the drum Ia. When braking the wheel I to a stop, the heel portion 6b of the friction shoe 6 is pivoted over the axis of the bushing 8 into engagement of the drum la, whereupon resistance to the rotation of the wheel I is created bringing the same to a stop in proportion to the amount of pressure applied by the operator. In adjusting the leg brace 4 to fit various people, the clamp portion 40. may be moved up or down the suspension arm 3 and fixed in place thereon, as desired, whereby the strap Ib may be located at the calf of persons legs having different dimensions. It will be here noted that the foot plate 5 is maintained in substantially level position by the springs I0, engaging plungers II bearing against arms I2 screwthreaded in' the shaft 3a pivotally mounted in each of the brackets 5a. It will be noted that each of the plungers' is provided with a nut Ila screw-threaded thereon, for adjusting tension of the springs in the casings l4 secured to the plate fia'of the friction shoe 6. The adjusting nuts I I a bear against the partially enclosed ends of the spring casings l4, maintaining the plungers II in adjustment. When the foot plate 5 is pivoted relatively to the arm 3,,one of the plungers I I is forced upwardly against one of the arms I2, compressing one of the springs IE3 which tends to return the foot plate 5 to the neutral position as shown in Fig.1 of the drawing. It will be noted that the bracket 5a of the foot plate 5 is provided with slotted portions 5f adapted to ac-' commodate a relative movement of the arms l2, therein. As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the springs ID in the spring casings M, are positioned in opposite relation to each other over the axis of the bushing 11 providing tension resisting either directional tilting of the foot plate 5, tending to .maintain thev same in neutral position when the operator of my skate is coasting.

' Though I have shown and described the particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention, the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vehicle of the class described the combination of a wheel, an axle for said wheel, a suspension arm in connection with said axle at one side of said wheel, a foot plate at the lower end of said suspension arm, said wheel provided with an annular drum surface outwardly of said foot plate and a friction shoe on said foot plate engageable with said annular drum, said foot plate pivotally mounted in connection with said suspension arm, and springs at opposite sides of the pivotal axis of said foot plate tending to hold the same in neutral position.

2. In a vehicle of, the class described the combination of a wheel, an axle for said wheel, a suspension arm in connection with said axle at one side of said wheel, a foot plate at the lower end of said suspension arm, said wheel provided with an annular drum surface outwardly of said foot plate and a friction shoe on said'foot plate engageable with said annular drum, said foot plate pivotally mounted in connection with said suspension arm, springs at opposite sides of the pivotal axis of said foot plate tending to hold the same in neutral position, and adjustable plungers engaging said springs arranged to maintain a certain tension, thereof, with respect to said foot plate.

DANIEL W. BLACKWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 363,716 Yost May 24, 1887 1,023,882 Schiesari Apr. 23, 1912 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 577,198 France May 30, 1924 

